Libya rejects Western military intervention in North African country
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 5, 2015 3:1PM
A high-ranking Libyan official says the country's internationally recognized government denounces any Western military intervention in the North African country.
'Foreign military intervention in Libya is rejected. If we need any military intervention, we will ask our Arab brothers,' said Aqila Issa, the speaker of Libya's internationally recognized parliament, on the sidelines of the Arab League meeting in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo on Monday.
Earlier in the day, French President Francois Hollande said Paris will not conduct a unilateral military mission in restive Libya, but vowed to strike militants leaving the North African country allegedly to prevent them from procuring weaponry.
'We are making sure to contain the terrorism that took refuge there, in southern Libya. But France will not intervene in Libya because it's up to the international community to take its responsibility,' said Hollande on Monday.
Libya's government and elected parliament moved to the eastern city of Tobruk after an armed group from the northwestern city of Misrata seized Tripoli and most government institutions in August.
The new Tripoli rulers have set up a rival parliament and government not recognized by the international community.
Libya plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. The ouster of Gaddafi gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.
The country has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and rival militia groups that refuse to lay down arms.
Battles between the rival militants, who had participated in the anti-Gaddafi uprising, are mainly over the control of oil facilities in eastern Libya.
Fighting between government forces and powerful militias has left hundreds of people dead and thousands displaced in recent weeks.
FNR/HMV/SS
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
